Joshua Brown Did Have A Criminal Record; But Did That Play A Role In His Murder?

He was killed 10 days after testifying in the Amber Guyger murder trial.

Joshua Brown was shot and killed last week and now his criminal record has gone public, some of which he had already acknowledged duringAmber Guyger‘s murder trial.

WFAA reports through obtained court documents that he was arrested five different times across cities in Texas. The arrests included drug possession, evading arrest, theft and having an illegal firearm.

In 2017, he was clearly trying to make a change for the better and wrote to a judge, “I am praying when that date comes and I am discharged that I can put the whole series of events behind me and start off on a clean path.”

As the attorney for the Joshua Brown family, Lee Merritt, points out, Brown was open about his past. Merrit wrote on Twitter, “Local media is now reporting Joshua Brown had an extensive criminal record consistent with the end he met as relayed by DPD investigators. Here is Josh’s criminal record in his own words discussed under oath and subject to cross examination. A drug kingpin it does not make.” See the tweet below, which includes video of Brown.

Local media is now reporting Joshua Brown had an extensive criminal record consistent with the end he met as relayed by DPD investigators. Here is Josh’s criminal record in his own words discussed under oath and subject to cross examination. A drug kingpin it does not make … pic.twitter.com/ibpWb6FLTO

Dallas cops said during a press conference that Jacquerious Mitchell, a 20-year-old Black man who was arrested for Brown’s murder, told them he and two other men who remained at large traveled from Louisiana to Dallas “to purchase drugs from Brown.”

When the alleged drug deal reportedly turned physical for whatever undisclosed reason, police said Mitchell claimed Brown shot him in the chest. That was when police claimed that Mitchell said Brown was also shot twice in the chest by Thaddeous Green, a 22-year-old who police are still searching for.

BREAKING: Dallas police issue arrest warrants for three suspects in the slaying of key witness in Amber Guyger trial.

Police failed to present any proof of any alleged drug deal (aside from Dallas Police’s claim that they “confiscated 12 pounds of marijuana, 149 grams of THC cartridges and $4,157 in cash from Brown’s apartment). It was also unclear why Brown, fresh off of the witness stand during a high profile murder trial would decide to take part in a drug deal while his name and face were so readily recognizable.

Merritt said that Brown did not want to testify and had traveled to California when he was compelled by subpoena to testify or face arrest. That is why Brown was so casually dressed on the witness . stand – he was reportedly just off a flight. Even the judge, who drew her own controversy by giving Guyger her Bible, was recorded verbally expressing surprise that Brown made it to court.

As Brown was Botham Jean’s neighbor, he was expected to testify at the civil trial being brought against the city of Dallas and the Dallas Police Department. As Brown’s witness testimony was important considered important to Guyger’s conviction, the Dallas Police Department now may have a better chance of defending itself in court whenever that civil suit begins.

“I am grateful that our detectives have taken the initial steps necessary to bring closure to this case,” Johnson said in a brief statement emailed to the media. “I want to thank everyone who demonstrated patience and responsibly reserved their judgment while the Dallas Police Department gathered the facts regarding the death of Joshua Brown. I urge anyone with additional information about this case to come forward.

Police have made sure to point out during the press conference that they said Brown’s murder was not connected to Guyger’s murder trial.